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Reo-Coker to Fill Barry Void? Wednesday 3rd June 2009
Gareth Barry completed a £12 million move to Manchester City yesterday and Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill must decide who can come in to replace him.
The England international has moved to Eastlands in a bid to avoid ‘becoming stale’ – something he explained in an open letter to Villa fans.
“I want the chance to explain my decision,” he said.
“I have a massive fear of going stale and falling into a comfort zone. After changing my mind lots of times I came to the decision that the time was right for me and the club to part.”
After a long-winded transfer saga last summer over a projected move to Liverpool, Barry ended up staying at Villa Park for another season.
Fantasy Stakes players will know that the 28-year-old was a solid performer last term – playing in every league game for Villa and finding the back of the net five times.
But now manager Martin O’Neill faces a tough decision regarding Barry’s replacement. Should he use the money from the transfer to buy another midfield player or is the current squad capable of coping in his absence?
Bulgarian midfielder Stilian Petrov has recently signed a contract extension at Villa Park and one man who will be desperate to prove himself is Nigel Reo-Coker.
Reo-Coker, who was on the cusp of the England squad a few years back, was used as a versatile player by Martin O’Neill last season but will want to establish himself in the centre of the park.
The 25-year-old played 26 times in the Premier League but often found himself filling in at right back. Will O’Neill give the former Wimbledon and West Ham player the chance to prove himself in midfield next term?
Fantasy football players will have mixed opinions on whether Reo-Coker has what it takes to step up to the plate, after a few years of relative underachievement.
